Sam Coupland

UNE Degree:

• Bachelor of Economics 1994
• Graduate Diploma in Financial Management 1996

Other credentials: Member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

Study mode: On Campus

College: Robb College

Current Occupation: Mayor of Armidale Regional Council and Director of FMRC

Skills: Leadership, Business Management, Entrepreneurial

Sam Coupland is a highly influential consultant, regional leader, and proud alumnus of the University of New England (UNE). As a Director and owner of the specialist advisory firm FMRC, Sam is recognised as the foremost authority on law firm management throughout Australasia with a specialty in equity advice, strategic growth, and partner compensation. His deep professional experience began at Ernst & Young before his work with FMRC.

Raised near Tamworth, Sam returned to the Armidale region in 2012.  In 2016 he formed Carpentaria Cattle Company, a large scale cattle operation in north Queensland which he operated until 2024.   He was elected Mayor of Armidale Regional Council in January 2022, where he leads a significant regional turnaround and spearheaded the 'Toward 50,000' Strategic Plan, and founded the influential Coalition of Renewable Energy Mayors concentrating on the rollout of Renewable Energy Zones in NSW.

The strength of UNE is its alumni and tapping this in a structed way can accelerate graduates careers by guiding them on what is possible and how to avoid the dead ends.